| name | design-ethics |
| description | Deceptive patterns (dark patterns), ethical design frameworks, persuasive vs. manipulative design, GDPR/consent UX. Use when reviewing designs for manipulation, designing consent flows, or evaluating ethical implications of design decisions. |
Design Ethics & Deceptive Patterns
Every deceptive pattern is a short-term revenue play that destroys long-term trust. If you have to trick someone into staying, your product isn't good enough. This isn't a moral argument (though it is). It's a business argument. Deceptive patterns tank retention, inflate support costs, and get you sued.
When to Use This Skill
Use when you need:
- Audit a design for deceptive patterns
- Design a consent or privacy flow (GDPR/CCPA)
- Evaluate whether a design is persuasive vs. manipulative
- Ethical review of engagement mechanics
Deceptive Patterns (Harry Brignull's 12 Types)
| Pattern | What It Does | Example |
|---|
| Trick Questions | Confusing wording leads to unintended actions | Double negatives in checkboxes |
| Sneak into Basket | Items added to cart without consent | Pre-selected add-ons at checkout |
| Roach Motel | Easy to enter, hard to leave | Amazon Prime's multi-page cancellation |
| Privacy Zuckering | Tricks users into sharing more data | Confusing privacy settings |
| Price Comparison Prevention | Hard to compare with competitors | Non-standard unit pricing |
| Misdirection | Draws attention away from important info | Prominent "Accept" with hidden "Decline" |
| Hidden Costs | Fees revealed only at final step | Shipping costs at checkout |
| Bait and Switch | Advertise one thing, deliver another | Free trial → auto-charge |
| Confirmshaming | Shame language on opt-out | "No, I don't want to save money" |
| Disguised Ads | Ads styled as content or navigation | Download buttons that are ads |
| Forced Continuity | Free trial silently becomes paid | No cancellation reminder |
| Friend Spam | Requests contacts under false pretenses | "Find friends" that spams contacts |
The Ethical Design Litmus Test
For any design decision, ask:
- Is the user fully informed? - Do they understand what will happen?
- Does the user retain genuine choice? - Can they easily say no?
- Would they feel betrayed? - If they understood the mechanism, would they feel tricked?
- Who benefits? - Does this serve the user, the business, or only the business?
Persuasive (ethical): Transparent, user retains autonomy, benefits the user. (Duolingo streaks motivate learning.)
Manipulative (unethical): Hidden intent, exploits biases, benefits company at user's expense. (Hidden cancellation flows.)
GDPR/CCPA Consent UX
Legal Requirements
- Explicit opt-in consent for non-essential cookies
- Fines: up to 20M EUR or 4% of global turnover (GDPR)
Design Rules
| Rule | Why |
|---|
| Button parity | Accept and Reject must have equal visual prominence (size, font, color) |
| Click parity | Opting out must require same number of clicks as opting in |
| No pre-ticked boxes | All consent must be affirmative |
| Easy withdrawal | Revoking consent must be as easy as giving it |
| Plain language | Replace legal jargon with clear explanations |
| Accessible | 4.5:1 contrast, keyboard navigable, screen reader compatible |
Related Skills
accessibility-wcag - Overlaps on inclusive, non-discriminatory designlaws-of-ux - Cognitive biases that deceptive patterns exploit
